You might have to remind yourself of this frequently when you’re around negative people for any length of time. Take breaks when you need to. Stepping outside for a moment, going to the restroom, or taking a quick walk are all ways you can maintain your positive attitude.
Don’t worry what the negative person might think of you if your priority is to maintain your own happiness. You won’t be able to change their attitude, so don’t waste your energy trying.
Instead, focus on the opinions and ideas of positive people, people who you’d like to emulate in your own life. If you’re engaged in the topics that interest you, you’re unlikely to have time to pay attention to the negative people around you.
The mantra that’s meaningful to each person is highly individual. Some people chant words from sacred traditions, while others prefer simple words or phrases. An example of a mantra might be: “I am enough," or the Buddhist, “Om mani padme hum. " Pairing mantra with your breath is a strong counterbalance to incoming negativity.
If you’re friends on social media, unfriending or unfollowing the posts of the negative person is one way to minimize your contact with the person. If there are events you have to attend with the negative person, go into them with as much positivity as you can. Take breaks as often as you need to.
It’s best if the person is impartial - that is, not someone who’s a friend of the negative person, or a friend who’s too close to you. Some people benefit from talking to a therapist or counselor. If you’re someone who finds herself constantly surrounded by negative people, there may be something in your own life that you can address.
Developing more knowledge about yourself will help you avoid falling into negativity traps. You might notice that the more you learn about why you react to these negative comments, the less they’ll bother you.
If someone tries to draw you in, simply redirect the conversation. If you can’t change the conversation, it’s okay to leave it. You can make up an excuse to leave, or you can simply explain that you don’t want to talk more about it.
It’s not important whether or not the negative person disagrees with your point of view. It will help your own attitude to not care what the negative person thinks! Remember that positivity is contagious - your own attitude might uplift your negative friend.
Try redirecting your attention to something that’s gone well, or something you’re pleased with. Don’t say anything to yourself that you wouldn’t say to another person you loved. If you find yourself doing this, interrupt the thought, and consider what you might say instead. Practice being kind to yourself. [4] X Expert Source Chad Herst, CPCCMindfulness Coach Expert Interview. 22 March 2019. Practice receiving compliments by saying “Thank you,” rather than acting as if you didn’t deserve it.
It will be helpful to remember that developing resilience takes time. You’ll improve with more practice. Be patient with yourself.
Laughter starts with not taking yourself too seriously. You might even try “laughter yoga” which combines laughter with yogic breathing. It is being developed as a means to encourage playfulness, an important quality in emotional intelligence and resilience. Even just smiling releases the chemical serotonin, which will make you feel better.
If you belong to a spiritual tradition, saying morning prayers or meditations might be helpful. This practice can also be done at night if you’re more of a “night owl. " Or, you might try doing some centering acts in the morning, and others in the evening. You may return to your gratitude list, your meditations or other practices throughout the day if you need to.
Perhaps what might, at first, seem to be negativity is fear and anxiety, and an opportunity to practice compassion. Even being courteous and polite to a negative person might change your ideas of him.
When you’re hungry or tired, you’re less likely to be able to practice resilience. Getting enough sleep is also part of a healthy lifestyle. Most adults do best on 7-8 hours of sleep per night, while teenagers often need 9-10 hours.
Sometimes an attitude that seems negative might be the person’s way of expressing concern. If you approach another person’s perspective with curiosity, he’ll be more likely to respond in the same manner.
